Archive for the ‘Stress Management’ Category
How to create and maintain a positive attitude
You have the ability to create your own positive attitude. Yes, whether your attitude is positive or negative, is up to you. The ability to change your environment or situation is not always within your control, but your attitude about it is within your control.
How to create and maintain a positive attitude
4 ways exercise makes us happier
4 Ways Exercise Makes Us Happy and Healthy by – Jennifer McGregor
Some people say exercise is the “cure” to nearly all of our life’s ailments. Whether you’re having trouble sleeping, are stressed out, or feeling down, it could be that all you need is to get up and moving. The truth is while exercise is famous for making us fit and healthy, it also has the power to help us lead happier lives.
Exercise Fights Insomnia
Stress Relief From Laughter? It’s No Joke.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
When it comes to stress relief, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here’s why.
Written by the experts at Mayo Clinic
Whether you’re guiltily guffawing at an episode of your favoite sitcom or quietly giggling at the latest New Yorker cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke.
Stress relief from laughter
A good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the positive things laughter can do.
Short-term benefits
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:
Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
Long-term effects
Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up, though. It’s also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:
Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Laughter may also break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders.
Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and make you feel happier.
Improve your sense of humor
Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos or comic strips that make you chuckle. Then hang them up at home or in your office. Keep funny movies or comedy albums on hand for when you need an added humor boost.
Laugh and the world laughs with you. Find a way to laugh about your own situations and watch your stress begin to fade away. Even if it feels forced at first, practice laughing. It does your body good.
Share a laugh. Make it a habit to spend time with friends who make you laugh. And then return the favor by sharing funny stories or jokes with those around you.
Knock-knock. Browse through your local bookstore or library’s selection of joke books and get a few rib ticklers in your repertoire that you can share with friends.
Know what isn’t funny. Don’t laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor aren’t appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good joke from a bad, or hurtful, one.
Laughter is the best medicine
Stress relief with laughter! Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you’ve had your chuckle, take stock of how you’re feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That’s the natural wonder of laughing at work.
To Your Health!
Holistic Health Warrior
More Thoughts from Mellisa
Question: What are you without an immune system?
Answer: You are dead.
As morbid as it may sound, it’s true. When your immune system is weak you will get sick. When your immune system completely fails you will die.
If I could show you a way to boost your Natural Killer Cells by up to 437%, would you be interested in hearing more? Of course you would.
4 Easy Breathing Exercises for Stress Relief
Breathing exercises open a gate to silent space within each of us. Breathing is definitely one of my favorite stress relieving techniques. It’s simple, free and can be done anywhere & anytime.
Here are four easy breathing exercises for stress relief by using just your breath, the natural way!
First Thing In The Morning Breath
Plan your day so that you have at least 5 minutes before your feet hit the floor. Sit on the edge of the bed with your back straight. Breathe in slowly through your nose and exhale loudly (without waking up the neighbors) through your mouth. As you are breathing in, arch your back slightly so that your chest really expands, allowing for the maximum amount of oxygen in. Repeat this as many times as you would like. Usually doing this for 3-5 minutes will give your brain and body a noticeable boost of energy. You should also feel a bit relaxed, but ready to conquer the day.
Deep Breaths While Driving In The Car
Rush hour traffic seems to raise the stress level and blood pressure for most of us. Stress makes you more apt to take shallow breaths. Every time you start to feel yourself tense up, remember to take a few deep breaths. Don’t forget to exhale completely, while focusing on some calming thoughts.
Breathe To Boost Your Afternoon Energy
If you’re like me, by the middle of the day your energy level may be starting to tank. Am I right? The best thing to do is to go outside and get some FRESH air breathing time for a few minutes. Take deep breathes in through the nose, hold it for a couple of seconds and then release it all out through the mouth. The fresh burst of oxygen with stimulate your muscles and your brain to carry you through the rest of your day.
End The Day With Relaxation Breathing
Like in the morning you need to create a ritual of ending your day with relaxation. Lay flat, with your arms to your sides. Breathe in through your nose slowly, hold for 3 seconds and then release the air from your mouth. You should give yourself about 10 minutes to release all of the thoughts and cares of the day so that your can sleep soundly through the night.
By creating a habit of doing some deliberate breathing exercises throughout the day, not just when you feel overly stressed, you will notice your tolerance level for stress will actually begin to rise, and you will be able to handle it more calmly and successfully.
To our great health!
Holistic Health Warrior
More Thoughts from Mellisa
Question: What are you without an immune system?
Answer: You are dead.
As morbid as it may sound, it’s true. When your immune system is weak you will get sick. When your immune system completely fails you will die.
If I could show you a way to boost your Natural Killer Cells by up to 437%, would you be interested in hearing more? Of course you would.
